M-type hexagonal ferrite series, Ba(1-x)SrxFe12O19 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0), has been synthesized. by conventional ceramic method. Hysteresis parameters have been investigated at an applied field of 10 We and absorption has been studied at X-band as a function of thickness, substitution and frequency. Microstructure and X-ray diffraction confirmed hexagonal structure of ferrite. The substitution causes profound increase in absorption, coercivity and magnetization. The magnetic parameters have been characterized by taking into account microstructure and preferential site occupancy. Curie temperature decreases with substitution due to the formation of spin canting structure. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.